Flushing apparatus



Jan. 22, 1929.

w. A. VAN DEUSEN FLUSHING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed Nov. 29, 192'? Patented Jan. 2.2, 1929..

irnlellid restan l', ik

musi-Ime APPARATUS.

application and November se, 19er. serial no. 236,436.

llhis invention relates to improvements in l'lushine1 apparatus ot the class disclosed and claimed in Letters Patent No. 1,308,382, granted to me on July 1, 1919.

The objects ot' the present invention are to simplify, cheapen and improve the float sustaining and operating mechanism of my former flushing apparatus, and to provide a construction by which the manufacturing costs are considerably lessened and the assembly ot the parts greatly facilitated.

The foregoing objects, with other and more speciiic ones hereinafter appearing, are attained in the construction illustrated in the acconapanying1 drawimrs` wherein Fig. 1 is a sectional. trent elevation of my improved flushing); apparatus, showing; the float and associated parts in the positions they occupy when the maximum water level prevails in the tant; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus with the tank cover removed; Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional detail., substantially on the line 3 of Fig. l, showing the lower iloat sustaining link and parts associated therewith; Fig. Il is a view,similar to 1, showing;` the float in its lowest position as when the water has receded to its minimum level. at which time it exerts no buoyant intluence upon the float, the dotted lines in the present view indi eating; the position to which the float depressed and wherein it is tem` porarily held by the float depressing arm; and 5 and 6 are sections on the respective lines 5-5 and ot Fig. 1.

'lhe tank, desi trusted 1, is preferably made ot vitreous china or porcelain, and is provided withv a removable cover 2. A Siphon, designated generally by the re'ierence numeral. 3, is desirably formed integral with the tank, and-it `shown as occupyingiv the rear lett hand corner, as the parts are viewed in 1, 2 and fl. The ascending leg i and descendino` leg' 5 of the siphon are separated by a wall (3 (Fin. (i) the upper edge ot which constitutes what is commonly refered to as the crown ot' the siphon, the some being; designated 7. The descending1 leg connects at its lower end with a conduit 8 that leading along the rear wall to the trans.- verse center of the tank and thence forwardly to the middle of the bottom wall and opens through ay boss that depends from the tank bottom and to which `the flush pipe 9 is connected by means of a standard coupling provided it'or that purpose. The open bottomV et tlm ascending leg' /lis inclined, and its higher edge is provided with a notch 10 forming what is known as the Siphon bi-oak."7 lWhen the water level descends be i low said not-ch, the siphonic action is gradually broken. y

A water supply pipe 11 is connected to the lower end ot' a pipe 12 which rises within the tank a suitable distance and has connected to its upper end, through a goose neck 13 and union 14, a valve 15 that has an outlet tube 16 directed toward the bottom of the tank. `The valve operated, through suitable connections involving lever mechanism 17, a rod 18, and relatively adjustable links 19 and 20, trom the float 21. The link 19 is adjustable through an aperture in a member 22 that is pivoted to the link 20, the link 19 `being se cured in any desired position with respect to said member by means of a set screw 23.

The lioat 21 is preferably drawn or pressed trom al single sheet of copper or other suitable metal, and tothe top wall of the float is riveted or otherwise secured a butler plate 25 that is formed at one end with ears 26 to which the link is pivotally connected. A wear plate 2i' is also preferably appliedto the top wall of the tanktoreceive the thrust ot the link 2O and thereby to protect the float against injury through frequent engagement of the float with said link. The end of the butter plate opposite its connection with the. link 2O is `formed with a stop 28 for a purpose present-ly to be explained.

Secured to the inner side of the right hand end wall of the tank, as the apparatus is viewed from the front, -is a support 3() which is in the nature of a. relatively narrow bar, and the connection between the tank wall and said support is desirably effected by means ot a cap screw 31 that is inserted from the outer side of the tank through a hole in said wall and is screwed into a tapped hole in the support. A layer 32 of suitable cushion material may be interposed between the support and the tank wall. Extending from front to rear through the top oi the support is a pin 38, and estendinpr rearwardly from the lower end of the support is a similar pin 3ft (see Fig.

The float 21 open at its bottom, and di sposed transversely of the float atits longitudinal center and in the `same vertical plane are tubes 35 and 36 that are shown as located immediately below, the top wall of the float and immediately above the open "bottom thereof, respectively. Theta totes open ico through the front andrear walls of the float, and the joint between said walls and the ends of the tube are suitably sealed. The vertical spacing of the tubes 35 and 36 is the same as that of the pins 33 and 34. Three linlks 40 are employed in my present preferred construction for connecting the float to the support 30, and these links are identical and interchangeable. Each link is constructed of a piece of tubing whose internal diameter is substantially the same as the diameter of the pins 33 and 34, and whose external diameter is substantially the same as the internal diameter of the tubes and 36. As will be seen by reference to Fig. 3, where one of the links is shown in detail, the ends 41 are turned at .right angles to the body portion of the link, and said body portion is flattened. in a plane at right angles to the plane of said ends. Two of the links 40 have one of their ends engaged over the opposite ends of the pin 33 and their other ends inserted in the ends of the tube 35, while the respective ends of the remaining link are engaged over the pin 34 and within the rear end of the tube 36. Since all the linksare of the same length, and in view of the fact that the spacing apart of the pins 33 and 34 is the same as that of the tubes 35 and 36, a parallel rule connection is effeeted v`between the float and the supportr30 so that the float is maintained at all times with its open bottom horizontal.

A shaft 43 is extended through a. bearing 44 in the front wall of the tank, above the float, and the rear end of the shaft is journaled in a bearing 45 supported by the rear wall of the tank in axial alignment with the bearing 44. The shaft 43 is held against forward displacement by means of a collar 44 that is pinned to the shaft immediately inside of the bearing 44, and a weighted handle 46 is fastened to the laterally turned forward end of thel shaft outside the tank. An arm 47 is secured to the shaft 43 centrally above the float and its free end is shown as equipped with a roller 48 that is arranged to engage the buffer plate 25 when the shaft is rotated in an appropriate direction by means of the handle 46.

In considering the operation of the apparatus, it will be assumed that water occupies the tank to the level indicated in Fig. 1 under which conditions the float 21 is maintained in its elevated position and through the connections previously described between the float and valve 15, the valve is hold closed. lVhen it is desired to flush the bowl, to which the tank is connected by means of the flush pipe 9, the handle 46 is turned in a direction to swing the arm 47 downwardly and engage the roller 48 thereof with thebuer plate 25 and depress the float to the position indicated by the dot-ted lines in Fig. 4 when the roller 48 will come to rest against the stop 28. This depression of the float displaces a suiiicient quantity of Water through the siphon 3 to start the siphonic action and this action continues until the Water level falls below thc Siphon break 10. As soon, however, as the water recedes to such an extent that the float is permitted to drop below the dotted line position shown in Fig. 4, pressure released from the roller 48, and the arm 4l' is permitted to return to normal position, under thc Vcounterbalancing weight of the handleI 4G in which position it is shown in 'full lines in Figs. 1 and 4. Soon after the float starts to descend, the connections between it and the valve 15 are relaxed, allowing the lever mechanism 17 to assume a position in which the valve is open so as to admit water through the tube 16. After the siphonic action cca-ses, as above explained, the wat-er begins to accinnulate in the tank and it continues to do so until the float is again elevated to its highest position in which it closes the valve 15 through the connections hereinhefore described.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that my present invention provides a very simple, dependable `and economical means for connecting the float to the tank and for depressing the float.` In assembling the parts, the tank is lirst installed and connected to the flush and supply pipes 9 and 11 and the valve 15 is emplaced with its associated parts including the rod 18 and the link 19. The float 20, links 40 and support 30 are next assembled as described and are lowered into the tank and the screw 31 is engaged through the hole in the end wall of the tank and screwed into the support 30 so as to hold it and the float in place. It may here he explained that the links 4() are prevented :from withdrawing from the pins 33 and 34 and from the tubes 35 and 36 by their proximity to the front and rear walls of the tank; No further means is necessary to hold thc links in place. Prior to installing the float, the link 20 is connected to the ears 26 of the plate 25, wherefor it is only necessary after installation to make the connection between the link 20 and the link 19V which is done by engaging the upper end of the link 19 through the aperture in the member Q2 and locking it therein by means of the set screw 23. Obviously this connection is madcwith the links 19 and 2O so adjusted with respect to cach other that the valve 15 is held closed when tl 1e float occupies its maximum elevation. The shaft 43 is next inserted through the bearing 44, the collar 44?l and the arm 47 are then applied to the shaft and the shaft extended rearwardly to engage its end in the bearing 45, after which the collar 44" and the arm 47 are suitably secured in place upon the shaft.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is A1. In a lushino apparatus, the combination with a tank, of an open bottom float with- Bil luc

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Lseaaaa in the tank, parallel links pivot-ally connected atene oit their ends directly to the oat and at their other ends directly to supports lined with respect to the tank :tor maintaining the Heat in position with its open bottom substantiall horizontal at all times while permitting the doat to rise and tall, a supply valve, operative connections between said valve and the float, means arranged to bear downwardly on the float for depressing the same and maintaining it against rebound until the water falls below a predetermined level, and fue ther means acting thereatter to restore the illoat depressing means to normal condition.

2. In a flushing a pparatus, the combination with a tank, oit an open bottoni lloat within the tank, parallel links pivotally connected with slipjoint connection at one oi" their ends to the float and likewise connected with a similar joint at their other ends to supports tilted with respect to the tank tor maintaining the -tloat in ,position with its open bottom substantially horizontal at all times while permitting the iioat to rise and tall, each link being in close proximity to an adjacent wall ot the tank and prevented thereby from be coming disconnected from the tloat and from the corresponding support, a supply valve, operative connections between said valve and the Heat, means 'or depressing the tloat and maintaining it against rebound until the water falls below a predetermined level, and

Lturther means acting thereafter to restore the float depressing means to normal condition.

3. In a flushing apparatus, the combination with a tank, ot a support therein, an open bottom float within the tank, links of equal length pivotally connected at one ci their ends to spaced parts oit the float and at their other ends to .similarly spaced parts of the support whereby the tank is maintained in a position with its open bottom substantially horizontal at all times while being permitted to rise and tall, asupply valve, operative connections between said `valve and the float, means for depressing the floatand maintaining it against rebound until the water falls below a predetermined level, and lurther means tending to restore thc float depressing' means to normal position.

el. ln flushing appa "atus, the combination with a tank, oLt a support therein, pivot pins extending from the support, the float having bearing recesses, links having tubular bearing parts extending at right angles trom their opposite ends, the bearing pins ot the support and the bearing recesses ot the lloat being spaced a like distance apart, respectively, the bearin r parts at the corresponding ends ot said lin s being engaged' within the bearing recesses of the float while those at the other ends of the links are journaled upon the pivot pins ot the support, whereby the float is maintained in position with its open bottom substantially horizontal at all times whilebeing permitted to rise and tall, a supply valve, operative connections between said `valve and the `float, means for depressing the float and n'iaintaining` it against rebound until theA water falls below a predetermined level, and further means acting thereafter to restore the tloat depressing means to normal position. i

5. ln flushing apparatus,l the combination with a tank, ot' a support secured to one of the end walls of the tank, said support having vertically spaced pivot pins, an open bottom float within the tank, said float having vertically spaced bearing recesses that are spaced. apart a like distance to the spacing ot said pivotal pins, links of equal length 'termed ot' tubing having their ends turned at right angles to their body portions, and having one oli' their ends journaled on the pivot pins of the support and their opposite ends contained within the bearing recesses of the Hoat whereby the float is maintained in position with its open bottom substantially horizontal at all times while being permitted to rise and tall,

a supply valve, operative connections between saidvalve and the tioat, means for depressing the float and maintaining it against rebound until the water falls below a predetermined level, and further means tending to restore thetloat depressing means to normal position.

G. ln flushing apparatus, the combination with a tank, ot a support located within the tank adjacent an end wall thereof, `a device tor securing said support to said end wall, bearing pins extending laterally in both dircctions from the top ot the support, a bearing pin extending laterally trom the bottom oit the support in substantially parallel relation to the betorementioned bearing pins, tubes carriedby and extendingtransversely ot the float and spaced apart ina vertical plane a like distance to the spacing apart oit the upper and lower bearing pins ot the support, links oit equal length andcorresponding in number to the bearing pins ol the support, said links being formed of tubing and having their ends turned at right angles to their body portions and their body portions flattened in a plane at right angles to the plane of said ends, one ol the ends ot said links being cngaged over the bearing pins ot the support and the opposite ends thereof journaled in the corresponding tubes ot' the float whereby the float is maintained in position with its open bottom substantially horizontal at all times while being permitted to rise and fall, a supply Valve, operative connections between said valve and the float, means tor depressing the float and maintaining it against rebound until the water falls below a predetermined level, and further means tending to restore the float depressing means to normal condition.

7. ln flushing apparatus, the combination with a tank, of a support `withinthe tank, bearing pins extending laterally from the support, tubes carried by the lioat in parallel relationto said pins and spaced apart a like distance to the spacing apart of the pins, links of equal length and corresponding in number to the bearing pins of the support, said links having tubular ends disposed at right angles to their body portions,y one of the ends of said links beiiig engaged over the bearing pins of the support and; the opposite ends thereoivl loinnaled in the ends ot the corresponding tubes oiVI the float whereby (he iioat is maintained in position with its open bottoni sidistantiallyv horizontal at all times While being permitted to rise and fall, a` supply valve, operative connections between said valve and the float, means for depressing the Vfloat and nniintaining .it against rebound until the water "falls below a predetermined level, and -iurther means tending to restorethc l'loat depressin means to normal condition, the space between the float and the `walls of the tank wherein said links are disposed being considerably less in Width than the length of the tubular ends of the links whereby said ends are prevented from withdrawing from the bearing pins a nd tubes.

8. In flushing apparatus, the combination witha tank, of a `float within the tank, a supply valve, operativeconnections between said valve and float, a shaft pivotally supported by the tank above said i'loat, an arm on said shaft that is normally out of contact with, but is adapted to engage and depress, the float whenthe shaft is rocked, and a handle for rocking the shaft, the arm serving to maintain the lloat depressed against the buoyancy of the Water until the water falls below a given level, and the handle acting thereafter by reason ot its weight to swing the shaft in a direction to restore tbe arm to its normal position.

9. In liushing apparatus, the combination with a tank, of an open bottoni float in the tank, means constantly maintaining the float in position with its bottom substantially horizontal while permitting the float to rise and fall, a supply valve, operative connections between said valve and the loat, an arm pivotally supported above and normally out of contact with the iioat and arranged when swung on its pivot to engage and depress the float and hold it depressed against the buoyancy of the water until the water tails below a predetermined level, a stop on the float that limits the swing of the arm, and means acting after the water .falls below said level to return the arm to normal position. i

l0. In iiushing apparatus, 4the combination with a tank, of an open bottom loat in the tank, means constantly il'laintaining the Aloat in position Vwith its bottoni substantielly llorizontal while permitting the float to riseand iiall, abulier plate secured to the top of the float, a supply valve, operative coiuiections between said valve and one ond of said plate, the opposite end oit the plate being formed to provide a. stop, an arm pivotally supported above the float and arranged when swung on its pivot to engage said buffer plate and depress the float, the arm engaging said stop and serving to maintain the :float depressed against the buoyancy oli' thewater until the water 'falls below a predetermined level, and means acting thereafter toreturn the arm to normal position.

ll. In a flushing apparatus, the combination witlii a tank, of an open bottoni float within. the tank, means constantly maintaining the loat in position with its bottom substantially horizontal While permitting the float to rise and fall, a buffer plate secured to the top of the float and having one of its ends formed tor pivotal connection with a link an(v ts opposite end shaped to provide a stop, a link pivotally connected to the first mentioned end ofthe buffer plate, a supply valve, operative connections between said valve andsaid link, an arm pivotally supported above the float and arranged when. swung on its pivot to engage the butter plato and depress the float, said arm being limited in its swinging movement by Contact with the aforesaid stop and serving to maintain the float depressed against the buoyancy ot' the water until the water ialls below a predetermined level, and means acting thereafter to return the arm to normal position.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix my signature.

VVILLIAM A. VAN DEUSEN. 

